On TV: The best Halloween TV episodes you can stream

Saturday

It's Halloween time on TV. Many shows aired their annual Halloween episode this past week.

It’s Halloween time on TV. Many shows aired their annual Halloween episode this past week.

“Modern Family” is building a reputation for some great Halloween episodes, and while many other shows, especially comedies, do an episode for the day of the dead, most are forgotten. Then there are those that will always live on.

Here are 10 of my favorite Halloween episodes that can be found on either Netflix, Hulu Plus or Amazon Prime (or all three). Most can be purchased through iTunes and Amazon, too. (“Roseanne” and “Home Improvement” would be musts if this were all-inclusive.)

Angel, “Life of the Party” (season 5, episode 5)

Amazon Prime, Hulu Plus, Netflix

It may not be the best-known show anymore, but this “Buffy” spinoff has one fantastic Halloween episode. Lorne’s empathic subconscious manifests itself in the form of a demon. For fans of science fiction and fantasy, this is a must.

If any show rivals the Halloween reputation of “Roseanne,” “Home Improvement” and “The Simpsons,” it’s “Community.” Sadly, we didn’t get one this year because of a delayed season premiere. These episodes are some of the best out there.

It wasn’t a Halloween episode, but it sure feels like one. It’s not only one of the best episodes of “The Dick Van Dyke Show” but one of the best in television history. One night, Laura is terrified by a movie Rob is watching. In the morning, either Laura is getting sweet revenge or Rob is the last man on earth. Thumbs up.

How I Met Your Mother, “Slutty Pumpkin” (season 1, episode 6)

Netflix

This send-up of “It’s a Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” is one of the first solid episodes from “HIMYM.” Ted is searching for a woman who he saw year’s before — you know can guess what she was dressed as. It’s hilarious.

Louie, “Halloween/Ellie” (season 2, episode 10)

Netflix

I’ve said before “Louie” is one of my favorite shows. This Halloween episode heads the the streets of New York with Louie trick-or-treating with his kids well after the sun goes down. Great mix of comedy and late-night city life.

Modern Family, “Halloween” (season 2, episode 6)

Netflix

Claire and Phil celebrate their favorite holiday by turning their house into a haunted house and plan an elaborate scheme to terrify trick-or-treaters. And their daughter demands to wear a costume that is too revealing for their taste.

Parks and Recreation, “Greg Pikitis” (season 2, episode 7)

Netflix, Amazon Prime

Ann throws an incredibly boring Halloween party but is rescued by Tom. At the city high school, Leslie confronts her teenaged nemesis Greg Pikitis.

Quantum Leap, “The Boogieman” (season 3, episode 5)

Amazon Prime, Hulu Plus, Netflix

This cult classic Sam, who travels through time by jumping into other people’s body and change the past for the benefit of the present, leaps into a horror writer and people start dying. Things only start getting weirder.

The Simpsons, “Treehouse of Horror V” (season 6, episode 6)

Netflix

While “The Simpsons” is no longer a big must-see for me, the annual “Treehouse of Horror” episode still remains a season highlight — the 23rd aired earlier this month. I’m picking the fifth edition as the best for its classic send-up of “The Shining.”

Metal band Korn is the Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine gang to investigate pirate ghosts. What more do you need? This is an episode of “South Park” packed with many random culture gags (Cartman even digs up his dead grandmother) that are stitched together superbly with plenty of inappropriateness.

The Walking Dead, “Days Gone By” (season 1, episode 1)

Netflix, Amazon Prime

It isn’t exactly a Halloween show, but it debuted on Halloween for a reason — zombie apocalypse.